UDUPI: Deputy Commissioner T.K. Swaroopa has directed officials to accelerate land acquisition and complete pending procedures for setting up four industrial areas in Udupi district, stressing the need to provide industrial plots and essential infrastructure to entrepreneurs to encourage investment and generate employment.
The direction was issued during a District-Level Single Window Committee meeting and an Industrial Response Committee meeting held at the Deputy Commissioner’s office in Rajathadri, Manipal. The proposed industrial areas are located at Shivapura, Kerebettu, Nitte and Uppur, covering a combined 265.20 acres.
Swaroopa instructed officials to coordinate with the relevant departments and complete the necessary procedures at the earliest to enable industries to establish operations in the district.
Four locations identified for industrial development
The four proposed industrial areas are spread across different parts of Udupi district.
The Shivapura industrial area in Hebri taluk covers 74.84 acres, while the proposed site at Kerebettu spans 38.75 acres. Nitte in Karkala taluk has been identified for an industrial area covering 50.42 acres. The fourth site, at Uppur in Brahmavar taluk, covers 101.19 acres.
The Deputy Commissioner stressed that pending land acquisition and other administrative procedures should be expedited to facilitate the establishment of new industrial units.
She also emphasised the need to provide basic infrastructure, including roads, water supply, electricity and drainage, in industrial areas. Such facilities are essential for attracting entrepreneurs, enabling units to commence operations and supporting industrial expansion.
Action sought on plots allotted to industries
The meeting also reviewed the progress of industrial units that had previously been allotted plots in the district.
According to the review, entrepreneurs had been directed to begin operations on 17 allotted plots. Five units have been fully established, while construction is under way on nine plots. No progress had been reported on the remaining three.
With more than 15 entrepreneurs seeking industrial plots, officials were instructed to initiate action in accordance with the rules to reallot plots where the allotted industrial units had not been established.
The move is intended to ensure that industrial land is put to productive use and made available to entrepreneurs who are ready to invest and begin operations.
Skill development and employment opportunities
The Deputy Commissioner also stressed the importance of coordinating with Industrial Training Institutes (ITIs) to provide young people with the technical skills required by local industries.
She expressed concern over the lack of progress on an earlier direction to coordinate with ITIs and facilitate suitable vocational training. Officials were instructed to take immediate action to bridge the gap between the skills available among local youth and the requirements of industrial employers.
The meeting noted that 484 vacancies existed across various industrial units in the district. These included positions for fitters, electricians, welders and mechanical personnel.
Swaroopa directed officials to take proactive measures to facilitate recruitment and ensure that eligible local candidates get opportunities to fill the vacant posts.
Local employment in existing industrial units
The review also covered employment in existing industries under the provisions associated with the Dr Sarojini Mahishi Report, which addresses employment opportunities for local people in industrial establishments.
Udupi district has 92 industrial units, comprising 38 small-scale, 47 medium-scale and seven large-scale industries. These units collectively employ 19,572 Kannadigas, according to the figures presented at the meeting.
The employment figures were divided into 292 employees in Category A, 1,840 in Category B, 5,329 in Category C and 12,111 in Category D. The report stated that local employment accounted for 91.42% of the workforce covered by the figures.
The Deputy Commissioner emphasised that the district should continue working to connect local candidates with available industrial jobs while strengthening the skills needed by employers.
Officials and industry representatives attend meeting
The meeting was attended by Joint Director of the Industries Department Nagaraj V. Nayak, Deputy Director G. Vamana Naik, Small-Scale Industries Association district president Vasantha Kini, KASSIA representative Harish Kundar and other district-level officials and industrial representatives.
The administration’s focus is on accelerating the development of new industrial areas, improving infrastructure, making better use of allotted plots and filling vacancies in existing units.
Completing the pending procedures at the four proposed sites could create additional opportunities for industrial investment and employment in Udupi district. The administration has called for coordinated action by the concerned departments to move the projects forward.